July 2, 2013 at 8:53 pm

Picture of the Day: Badlands National Park

by twistedsifter

 

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

 

Badlands National Park south dakota usa

 

Badlands National Park is a national park in southwestern South Dakota that protects 242,756 acres (98,240 ha) of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States.

On January 29, 1939, it was established as a National Monument but did not attain National Park status until November 10, 1978. There were 870,741 visitors to the park in 2011.

The Badlands Wilderness protects 64,144 acres (25,958 ha) of the park as a designated wilderness area and is the site of the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America. [Source]

 

 

picture of the day button Picture of the Day: Badlands National Park